“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” —Warren Buffett
Recently, I pulled into my local gas station. It was evening and there wasn’t much traffic inside or outside the store. In fact, I was the only one filling up.
That was, until another car came speeding around the corner and pulled up to the pump next to me. The engine of the sports car broke the quietness of the evening and was drowned out only by the squeal of his tires and eventually, the volume of the music pouring out his windows.
The driver quickly hopped out of his vehicle wearing a leather jacket and proceeded to fill his tank with premium gasoline.
It was quite a spectacular sight actually. A dark, still evening with no noise around us to speak of. Me, standing next to my white, 2005 Honda Accord. And him, right next to me, taking time to admire his brand new sports car.
We didn’t exchange any words. I don’t even recall him looking in my direction to acknowledge my existence. He was, I think, far too preoccupied with his vehicle.
I know nothing of this fellow or how he came to acquire his fancy new car. And I am passing no judgment on him. This is a story about me—not him.
Because in that moment, a surprising thought entered my head. I remember thinking (for better or worse), “You know, I could drive a car like that if I wanted. I could purchase a fancy new sports car, a leather jacket, even racing gloves if I wanted. But I choose not to.”
And it’s true. There are, I suppose, a few cars on the planet that I could not receive enough credit to acquire. But for the most part, there is nothing stopping me from driving an expensive, flashy sports car around town.
Except for maybe one thing.
The only thing stopping me from driving the same car I encountered at the gas station is I enjoy living within my means.
I like knowing I spend less than I make.
I mean, I could drive a more expensive car. I could buy a bigger house. I could take more lavish vacations or purchase more luxurious furniture. But I find a significant amount of pleasure knowing my expenses do not exceed my income.
Staying out of debt means I am not being hunted down by creditors. It means I am not carrying a financial burden from my past while also trying to provide for the present. It means I have freedom to make choices with my excess income. It means I can save if I want, give if I want, or spend if I want. Because I live within my means, I enjoy a significant level of freedom that others do not.
It allows me to sleep better, carry less stress, and live a more calm, relaxed life.
Our world works hard to convince us to outspend our means and then provides a thousand ways for us to do it—even delivering pre-approved cards of plastic directly to our front doors. And from the outside, a life built on credit may appear the life we desire—with its bright lights, bold colors, and the flashy impressions we are able to make.
But I’ll choose something different for my life. I’ll choose calm and peace and the knowledge that I have chosen responsibly. For there is a wonderful joy to be found in it.
I know there are any number of uncontrollable circumstances that may make this choice impossible for some—tragedy, medical emergencies, or unexpected career downsizing as examples. But for those who still have the choice, I don’t think you’ll ever regret spending less than you make.
Besides, I kinda like my Honda Accord.
About Joshua Becker
If you set your lifestyle to save 10% of your earnings, you will need to work 9 years to save enough to live one without working. Conversely, if you set your lifestyle to save 90%, you could enjoy 9 years of not working for every year of work. Sure, these are extremes, but you get the point. There is a comfortable point on this curve for everyone. You would be surprised, however, how few people are even saving 10%.
I think people should own whatever they really want… for me, the problem with a “nice” car is that it impedes my day to day life. If I had a “nice” car I would worry about it getting scratched and the daily abuse it would take. That “cost” of ownership is not worth it to me.
“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” —Warren Buffett
I love this quote! And this is how I have been handling my personal finances for almost 25 years!
This also reminds me of a quote from “David Copperfield”:
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen [pounds], nineteen [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” – Mr. Micawber
The man who had that car may very well have been able to afford it. While I get your point and I think what you’re saying is admirable, and while you claim it’s about you not him, you framed this whole piece around being the opposite of this guy.
And the opposite of you is someone with a ton stuff they can’t afford. But you don’t know a thing about that man. He may very well have bought those things for himself as a splurge after years of doing exactly what you are currently doing.
I noticed you claim you weren’t judging him but this sentence “He was, I think, far too preoccupied with his vehicle[,]” is very judgmental. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve framed your narrative for this piece with this stranger as the “bad guy” and you as the “good guy.” Or at least the righteous one.
Virtue is it’s own reward. And it doesn’t need to be compared or contrasted.
I had the same thought. Perhaps he has more than enough money to afford that car, and perhaps it makes him very happy. Maybe it is his hobby. Maybe he spends no more on that car than I spend on travel.
And on the flip side, I could easily afford such a car, but not having things I don’t need makes me happy, independent of whether I can afford them.
We should all strive to worry less about how other people choose to live their lives. His car is not your concern, period.
I thought I was the only one thinking this. Everyone is different in how they want to enjoy their money. This article is passing judgment on how one should enjoy their savings or spend their money. You can save all you want and have the freedom to buy whatever your heart desire. God tells us money isn’t the problem, the root of it is. So if some man wants to buy a sports car and admire it, that’s his thing. We shouldn’t judge others because they got some shiny toy. We don’t know if he worked hard and saved for it.
I love the point you make when you say “staying out of debt means… I am not carrying a financial burden from my past while also trying to provide for the present”.
This is the whole reason why I want to get out of debt, because a decision you make in your past stays with you for years and years and I hate that feeling. Thank you for your poignant article and for your words of wisdom as always.
Hi Josh! I so get this. When we made that last mortgage payment it felt amazing. We own our home. We have no car payments or credit card debt. But what do you do when your college kid is facing school loans in excess of 100k and can’t get a loan without a consigner. We kinda feel like he and we are stuck between the rock and a hard place. Just wonder what others do or what you might suggest!
Community college the first 2 years is very inexpensive… not sure why everyone thinks the first 2 have to be at a more expensive school when it’s usually just the Gen Ed classes being completed… very few jobs require attendance at prestigious universities – most are looking for good grades, meaningful extracurricular activities, job experience (even part time with great references for work ethic and contribution…)
The freedom and peace this way of living gives is insatiable, I constantly want more. Because of this, you want to make the right decisions. This article speaks so much to my heart. Thank you for reconfirming what I already know.
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
I’d love to live like this but one medical emergency and your savings are gone, which is exactly what happened to me.
That happened to me also. My husband had cancer and several surgeries. I’ve found that, because we live this way, our emergency fund quickly rebuilt itself. I put all medical bills on a 2 year payment plan. We had tens of thousands of dollars in bills that weren’t covered by insurance and we didn’t qualify for financial assistance. There isn’t any interest or fees if you make arrangements before they’re sent to collections. I also sold a few unwanted items to pay off as much as I could. I called the hospital and negotiated a lower amount. (yes, you can do that) I’m still paying on those bills, but I rebuilt my emergency fund at the same time. We also got off of my husband’s employer insurance and bought our own. We asked his boss to pay the same dollar amount toward it and he obliged, happy to get us off the plan and reduce his overall costs. Our new insurance costs more monthly and has a higher deductible, but covers 100%. There are many ways to manage medical bills, without going broke in the process.
I see the results in a a family members life still for always picking purchases above their well being .I was on vacation recently and they had a medical emergency which would eventually require 280 dollars . I had called the dental clinic before I left to see how much it was going to be and they said 200 …I left 200 dollars on with my mother before leaving for the airport
My brother texted me he would pay me back but I said no worries .I did text him back and say you should read Dave Ramsey’s book and start an emergency fund . My mother had been complaining loudly about his purchases on craiglist and free items he often hoards his house with . My mother often babied him and till she recently started dating a new person was always running his life .If he had an emergency he would run to her and she would always help.I almost did not help but I could not watch him in pain….
I am always expected to be responsible and never the driver of that red shiny car ….but I like the peace of mind…
Thanks for the reminder.